What Is a Good "Starter" Cheese to Give My 11Mth Old?

My 10 month old loves baby bell chaddar and it is easy to pack to go as well so it is very good on the go. I break it since he has no teeth yet. He also loves the mini mozzarella balls from whole foods bocacini I think they are called. I have seen other moms give string cheese but I don't like to give too many preservatives to my son so I try to stay away. Cottage cheese is good too, and american, I mix american into oatmeal sometimes and he loves it.

Hi
I started my daughter with a mild cheddar at 9 months. She loves cheese and enjoys feeding it to herself. I buy the block of cheese and cut into slices and freeze. When it is time for cheese I take out one piece at a time.
She also like mozzarella and swiss.
Good luck
K.

my girls LOVE all types of cheese. I think we started with white american... or you could give a mild shredded cheddar or shredded mozzerella..

mild mozarella or cheddar were fine for my two and they both really enjoyed singles for some reason

Hi K.:

I started my daughter with regular sliced Kraft cheese. Since I get a little help from the WIC program the dieticians there start them off with this type of cheese and so far so good. I believe she was about 9 or 10 months. But every child is different. Since you haven't given your child cow's milk as of yet I would just consult with your pediatrician just to be on the safe side. She loves it and nothing has happened and she is going to be two soon. I hope this helps.

J.

Hi K.,

I am not sure which starter cheese is best. Just make sure it is low sodium. Muenster cheese that was very tasty, I ate that when I was pregnant (doctor recommended), it helped settle my stomach.

All the best.

Stay away from soft cheeses (blue,brie...) their unpasturized and may contain listeria, which can be dangerous to a baby. This is the same reason why you don't eat them when pregnant. I'd start with something mild. American or mozzerella. I gave my kids grilled cheese.

I started with something mild - I think it was mozzarella. Now they eat most cheese, when they're in the right mood, with the exception of Jarlsberg and Cheddar. My daughter lpoves American and the Baby Bel cheese in the red wax.

I like used real mozzerella cheese w/ my son (the kind that comes in a ball) b/c it has a milk flavor and was really soft and easy for him to finger feed. He had a lot of trouble feeding himself the sliced cheeses at first, but now he eats everything!! Plus I added all types of shredded cheese to pasta! Good Luck!

I used to polyo string cheese (peeled in small shreds) its moz. cheese and laughing cow spreadable cheese I think I had my first son suck it off my finger when he was 6-7 months old-he LOVED it. but like all the others moms said. something mild.

I started with fresh mozzarella balls, and now use string cheese. She loved it at that age. I used the baby bel for a while, but it was giving her spit up.

Stuff like chedder and american. Anything that is pastuerized is fine.

Shredded cheeses are great--cheddar, mozzerella--you might want to try the finely shredded first if you are buying prepackaged. Then if he likes it you can start sprinkling it on foods to get him to try new stuff. If you are out to eat with him you can ask for it too--lots of times places have it and it will keep him occupied.

I started with american and Muenster cheeses.

My son loved shredded mozzarella on his high chair tray. It made a mess, but he could pick it up himself and it occupied him for long enough that we got to sit though a whole meal. A lot of it ended up in the seat next to him or on the floor though!!

Good luck!

I first started my daughter at 10 months on american cheese but I was then told that cheddar and mozzerella and other types have more nutritonal value so I began to give her all types. She loves it and when I started she only had 2 teeth. It was not a problem for her to eat.

R. mother of Maya now 1 year old.

My son is 9 months, and loves sliced cheddar and havarti. The thinner the slice, the better.

Cheese is his absolute favorite food! :)

K.,
As long as he doesn't have any allergies you could give him anything you want.. not sharp or pepper (ha) And he is old enough for cows milk too so, its really up to you. I liked giving my son the Yo Baby organic yogerts and when he was older I gave him string cheese. (still do) Just be careful because cheese can be binding and the last thing you want is a constipated baby!
Good luck,
M. from Pittsford

I started with Colby cheese, I think. Something very mild.

i give my 10mo pieces of my older daughters string cheese all the time. she loves it.

HI! My daughter loves the horizon organic american cheese and once your son starts eating pasta. I love to use that with a little milk and make macaroni and cheese for her. She is two and still loves it.

Anything with a mild flavor will probably appeal to him. Blue cheeses, limberger (blecch!) anything really sharp or really funky smelling will most likely put him off at this age. Mild cheddar, mozzarella, baby swiss, colby, muenster are all good choices for snacking. You can put paremigiano-reggiano or Romano cheese on his pasta, or cream cheese on some toast or a piece of bagel if you like, too.

I would stay away from the processed cheeses and the cheese spreads, too much salt.